Collar forming, smoothing, and drying machine.



APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, I915.

Patented Mar. '7, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I WITNESSES:

W. E RILEY.

COLLAR FORMING, SMOOTHING, AND DRYING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR, 22, 1915.

1,174,284. Patented Mar. 7 1916.

SHEET 2.

3 SHEETS- W. E. RILEY.

COLLAR FORMING, SMOOTHING, AND DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-22.1915.

Patented Mar; 7, 1916.

' WIT/V252; 2f?

THE COLUMBM PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON, D. c.

said folds.

WILLIAM E. RILEY, on LonisvILLn, KENTUCKY.

COLLAR FORMING, SMOOTHING, AND DRYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. '7, 191a.

Application filed March 22, 1915. Serial No. 16,018.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, WILLIAM E. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 508 Vest J elferson street, in the city of Louisville, county of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Collar Forming, Smoothing, and Drying Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in collar ironing and finishing machines, and is designed especially to drying, smoothing the.

top and forming turn down collars in, as nearly as'possible, theshape in which the collar is worn on the neck, and at the same time to fix the space between the two folds of the collar so that-a tie 'may be readily passed backward and forward between the To accomplish these results without injury to the fabric requires very nice and delicate application of moisture, heat, friction and pressure.

Attention is invited to the fact that turn down collars are ironed fiat, spread open, and on both sides, inpractically all laundries. After being so ironed they are very stifl, and in order to turn them down, or fold them into the form in which they are worn, it is necessary to dampen them at the line of fold, top and bottom, especially the top, so that the fabric of the collar is not broken and destroyed. The dampening of the top of the collar at the line of fold, softens the starch, some of which willfrequently remain on the ironing surface brought in contact with the collar, and this starch remaining on they hot iron, turns black, and soils any subsequently applied collar which may touch it, so that it isessential, to clean spotless work that a convenient means be employed for removing this left over starch when it is attached to the ironing surface.

The objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a form on which a turn down collar is shaped as it is desired for wear, to provide a mild and variable pressureand friction for smoothing roughness and the starch crystals formed on the top of a turn down collar by the act of folding the same, and to provide means of fixing and setting the shape and curl of the collar while it'is on the form and until it is bone dry, thus by the same means setting or fixing the tie space between the two folds. This is accomplished by gently pressing the collar, while outlet at 5.

I attain the objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central'longitudinal section, with parts in elevation, showing the form in dotted lines, as in position to receive the collar. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, with parts broken away to show a part of the segment circle of formersshowing also the position of the handle when the collar is locked between the form and the circle of formers; and illustrating the position of that part of the spider-like member which oscillates the circle offormers. Fig. 3, is a detached perspective, on an enlarged scale of a part of the circle of formers, showing the manner in which the segments are attached to the ring or carrier.- Fig. 4: is a.

rear elevation, showing the spider-like member and the manner in .which it is bolted to the ring or carrier'of the segment circle of formers; showing also the inlet (4:) for the steam, which, fills the outer steam chest and passes through a channel shown in dotted lines to the inner steam chest'and finding an Fig. 5 is a sectional view on lines 22 of Fig. 2"illustrating the manner in which the cam-like end of the handle engages the pin located in the outer'end of the shaft. Fig. 6 is a detached plan view ofthe handle and connection.

Similar numbers refer-to similar parts throughout the several views.

l'is a base, which may be attached to a table or other convenient'support, and having a slidewayin the top thereof.

' 2 is a circular hollow steamchest with two chambers, flat'at the back, but projecting forwardly on each side of a channel 3, and having an inlet 4 and an outlet 5 for circulation of the steam for heating the chests.

In the channel 3 is movably positioned a ring or carrier 6, to which are attached the circle; of concave; grooved formers 7. Through the back of the'steam chest, and between the two chambers thereof, are three oblong semicircular apertures 8, through which the spider-like member 9 is attached to the ring or carrier 6.

10 is a shaft positioned transversely through the solid back of the steam chest,

and extending forwardly to a point Where it will receive the cam-like end of the handle 11, to be described when the latter is raised for that purpose. The other end of the shaft 10 extends rearwardly from the back of the steam chest and is screwed into said back until the shoulder 14 of said shaft bears against the back. Shaft 10 is threaded on the rear end to receive two knurled set nuts. The ring 6 is attached by bolts, 15, extending through the apertures, 8, rigidly to the spider like member, 9, which member journals on the shaft, 10, and has a projection, 16, with which the operator oscillates the circle of formers.

17 is a spiral spring, held in tension against the member, 9, by the knurled set nuts 18. This tension transmitted through the member, 9, provides the necessary pressure of the formers against the top of the collar A A. 19 is a circular supporting plate, hingedly attached to the slide block 20, operative on the slide 21 on the base. To this supporting plate is attached the cylindrical form 13, and at the center of the supporting plate are projecting lugs 19 to which the handle, 11, is pivoted; and attached to the handle, and a part thereof, is a cam-shaped member 22. Vhen the handle is held in a horizontal position for the purpose of sliding the base plate and form toward the formers, the fiat side-of the cam passes beneath the pin, 12, and engages the latter when the handle is lowered to a vertical position, and thus locks the supporting plate in a vertical position and forces the outer edge of the col lar when positioned on the form 13 against the circle of segmental formers.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noticed that the formers 7 are attached to the ring, 6, by pins so as to allow a slight rocking motion to the formers this is for the purpose of overcoming any unevenness in the top of the collar.

The manner of operation is as follows After a collar has been ironed in the usual way and has been dampened at the line of folding, it is straddled or doubled over the cylinder, 13, when in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. Then, by the handle, 11, the supporting plate, 19, and the cylinder, 13, supporting the collar are lifted up, and all slid toward the steam chest, and

the collar is thus pushed into the space between the chambers of the steam chest, bringing the top of the collar into juxtaposition with the grooved formers, 7 The cam end of the handle, 11, engages with the pin, 1.2, when, by pressing the handle down, the collar is locked between the form and the concave surface of the formers. A movement up or down of the handle, 16, irons and smooths the top of the collar while the cylindrical form, 13, fixes the tie space, and, by leaving the collar in this position for a few seconds it becomes bone dry and retains its circular shape after being re moved. To remove the collar the operation is the reverse of the above.

As will be readily seen that part of the machine which is exposed to scorched starch dirt, towit, the circle of formers, 7, which is the only part of the machine that touches the outside of the collar, is prominently exposed to observation and conveniently located for cleansing purposes.

The form of my device as here shown and described is as at present preferred, but I wish it understood I do not limit myself to this one form. I claim the right to modify the shape or form of the-device, so long as I do not depart from the spirit of the device as set forth in the claims herewith attached.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, a steam chest, vertically positioned as indicated, having double chambers, separated by a channel, in which is positioned a movable ring carrier, attached to which is a plurality of formers, with a hinged and slidably connected cylinder attached to a supporting plate designed to be lifted and slidably entered in said channel for the purpose indicated.

2. In a machine of the character described, a steam chest, provided with steam inlet and outlet passages, vertically positioned as indicated, and mounted on. a base provided with a slide way, said steam chest having double circular chambers, separated by a channel, in which is slidably located a ring carrying a number of formers, with means for rotating said ring, with a hinged and slidably connected cylinder designed to be slidably entered between the chambers of the'steam chest and into juxtaposition with said formers. I

'3. In a collar machine. of the character described, a steam chest, vertically positioned as indicated, having double circular chambers, with steam inlet and outlet passages, and mounted on a base provided with a slide way in alinement with the center of the steam chest, and extending at right angles and partially underneath said steam chest, in combination with a transversely positioned shaft bolted to the center of the back of the steam chest, and extending at right angles in front and back of said chest; a former ring positioned in the channel between the chambers of the steam chest, and bolted to a spider-like member having a handle extending beyond the steam chest, and journaled on the shaft and held in the desired position by a spring and lock nuts onv said shaft ;with a hinged and slidably connected cylinder and supporting plate for same, provided with a hingedly connected handle having a hooked and cam shaped end designed to connect with a pin positioned across and through said shaft, for the purpose of forcing the cylinder against the former ring when said handle is lowered to a vertical position, for the purpose indicated.

4. A collar machine, of the character described, having a vertically positioned steam chest, with a segmental circle of formers, a cylindrical form attached to a supporting plate, the latter hingedly attached to a slide block, all arranged so that the cylindrical formers, and of controlling said pressure; a form on which a turn-down collar may be.

positioned for treatment; means of bringing the upper edge of said collar, when on said form, into juxtaposition with said. formers; means of locking said form and collar while in contact with said formers,

all substantially as set forth and for the purposes indicated. 7

6. A collar machine of the character described, comprising a vertically positioned steam chest, with steam inlet and outlet, mounted on a suitable base, with a segmental circle of concave grooved formers, said formers rotatable by convenient means, and held in desired position and pressure by suitable spring; with a cylindrical form,

hingedly attached to a slide block, so that 7 said form may be lifted and slid into juxtaposition with the concave surface of the formers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A collar machine having a steam chest,

vertically positioned on a suitable base, with a carrier ring, to which are attached a segmental circle of concave groovedformers; said carrier ring vertically posltioned in close relationship with the steam chest, means for oscillating the circle of formers, a spring to hold the formers slightly forward of the back of the steam chestand to resist pressure against the concave surface of the formers, means of'controlling sald pressure; a cylindrical form, on which a turn-down collar is positioned for treatment, said form attached to'a supporting plate, means for raising said form to a'vertical position and sliding the same toward the formers, bringing the upper edge of the collar into juxtaposition with the formers;

means of locking the form in this position for the desired length of time, all substan- V tially as set forth and for the purpose indicated.

WM. E. RILEY. Witnesses:

KATIE GRniB, MICHAEL T. KREMER,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

